Rail-joint.



W. E. SALSMAN.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1917 Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

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WALTERiE. SAIJSMAZN," OF MOUNEDAIN. VIEVT; MISSOURI; ASSIGNOB OFONE-TENTI-I TD I LI1\TA- CBAJS'IREE, or MOUNTAIN VIEW, vnssoonr.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

1"zttented Aug. 28, 191?.

Application filed June 9, 1917. Serial No. 173,730.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that IVAL'rEn E. SALSMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mountain View, in the county of Howell and State of Missouri, has invented certain be readily connected to or disconnected from each other and in which the joint may be made when the rails are rolled.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of two abutting rails connected by my improved joint;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rails and joint, the bolt being in section;

Fig. 3 is an elevation looking from the opposite side of the joint; and

Fig. 4; is a perspective view of the two rails separated.

Referring to these figures, 10 and 11 designate abutting rails of the usual form. The rail 10 is formed adjacent its end with a transverse aperture 12. The rail 11 is also formed adjacent its end with a transverse aperture 13, which is preferably rectangular in form. Formed integral with the web of the rail 10 is a tongue 14, the extremity 15 of which is laterally bent and preferably ductile. The web of the rail 11 is formed with a. tongue 16, which is not flexible, but at its end is recessed as at 17.

In the practical use of this invention, the rails 10 and 11 are abutted against each other and the angular extremity of the tongue 14 is inserted through the perforation 13, while the tongue 16 is disposed against the web of the rail 10. A bolt 18 is passed through the perforation 12, said bolt being provided at one end with an enlarged head 19 and at its other end with a nut 20. This enlarged head bears against the bifurcated extremity of the tongue 16, so as to hold this tongue 16 flat against the web of the rail 10 and in tight engagement therewith. This tongue 16 might be formed with a perforation, instead of the notch 17, for the passage of the bolt 18. hen the parts are thus joined, the extremity of the tongue 15 is turned flat against the outer face of the tongue 16, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the rails are thus held in conjoined relation.

It will be seen that this construction provides for a very simple manner of connecting the rails, that it holds the rails firmly together and yet allows for expansion and contraction and furthermore that it forms a perfect bond between the rails so that the rails may be used for electric railways. It

will also be seen that there are no bolts to shear, that no strain comes upon the bolt 12, but that the two tongues 1 1 and 16 hold the rails in exact alinement with each other.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a rail joint, abutting rails, one of the rails being formed with a perforation and a tongue on the other rail adapted to be disposed through said perforation and bent against the web of the perforated rail to thereby hold the rails in abutting relation.

2. In a rail joint, abutting rails, the web of each of said rails being formed with a perforation adjacent its end, an angular tongue formed upon one of the rails, the extremity of the tongue being relatively flexible, the extremity being adapted to be in serted through the perforation in the web of the other rail and then bent flat against the rail, the second named rail being formed with a tongue adapted to be engaged against the web of the first named rail, the tongue being notched at its end, and a bolt passing through the perforation of the second named rail and through the notch of said tongue.

3. In a rail jomt, abuttlng rails, one of said rails being formed wlth a perforation through its web adjacent its extremity and with an integral tongue projecting from the perforation in the first named rail and enend of the rail on one side face thereof, the gaging the tongue of the second named rail. 10 tongue being angularly bent, the other rail In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my being formed upon the opposite side face signature in the presence of two witnesses.

with a tongue and having a perforation 1 WALTER E; SALSMAN. through its web through which the angular Witnesses:

end of the first named tongue is adapted to M. L. LANDRUM,

engage, and a bolt passlng through the LESTER LANDRUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

